Amanda & Eric 03/03/10- WP/WHP/Sago Cay Centerpiece Ideas!

[Kimmers127]

It sounds like the Escape could be a great option for you guys. I'm a little worried about our guest list - this will probably sound soooo Bridezilla but bear with me. Nick is dead set on having an (extremely inexpensive) at home reception after our Wishes wedding. There are certain friends and family members that we know won't make the trip to FL but would love to be included in some other way. My concern is that if we offer our guests the option of an at home reception after the wedding, some guests that I think would otherwise have come to FL will pass on that and just come to the home reception instead. Which... I mean, I get it, it's a much cheaper option. But to me, the at-home reception is basically a congratulations party. By then, the part that's truly important to me (the actual wedding) will have already happened. And the reason we're doing a Wishes wedding is because it's important to me to celebrate our wedding the day it actually happens. I didn't want our first dance and all those other little traditions to take place weeks after the actual wedding. But now I'm kind of afraid that we'll send out our invites and so many people will opt out of the Florida part that I'll start to feel stupid for doing a Wishes wedding!

Starting to ramble here. My point is... deciding whether you want Escape or Wishes can be really, really tough. Ditton on deciding who to invite actually!

Good luck with your move! Can't wait to hear more of your planning.

 

[pinkcow]

Just stopping in to say everything looks great so far, and I love all of the colors! I know a bit about your neck of the woods, I graduated from RIT!

 

[Carys]

So Eric and I are considering downgrading from Wishes to Escape. The more we think about how many people might actually go, Escape makes more sense. We have agreed that it will just be immediate family and our best man and maid of honor. I think it might work out better. Then we will have an at home reception which his parents REALLY want for their side. His grandma can't make it to Florida. We haven't 100% decided but are seriously considering it. Not much will change about the wedding just smaller

That could be a great option, plus after the fun of the honeymoon is over you would have another celebration to look forward to and you'd be able to include your new grandma as well It's very smart of you two to look at financially savvy options (i.e. Escape) and take into account how many will commit to the trip as well as the "think bigger" Wishes stuff. Either way, the most important part is the ceremony and whichever option you pick, it'll be a wonderful occassion. With the technology available today, wouldn't it be neat if Disney could teleconference the ceremony back to a location back home especially for smaller weddings where guests can't make it. I wonder if anyone's tried it.

 

[MainStMandy]

Ok...so I was looking up what an Escape wedding is on the Disney website. I was looking at the samples of bouquets they have. They have a calla lily one and it says in the description that it comes in lavender. Don't know if you have seen that but thought I'd throw it out there!

It sounds like the Escape could be a great option for you guys. I'm a little worried about our guest list - this will probably sound soooo Bridezilla but bear with me. Nick is dead set on having an (extremely inexpensive) at home reception after our Wishes wedding. There are certain friends and family members that we know won't make the trip to FL but would love to be included in some other way. My concern is that if we offer our guests the option of an at home reception after the wedding, some guests that I think would otherwise have come to FL will pass on that and just come to the home reception instead. Which... I mean, I get it, it's a much cheaper option. But to me, the at-home reception is basically a congratulations party. By then, the part that's truly important to me (the actual wedding) will have already happened. And the reason we're doing a Wishes wedding is because it's important to me to celebrate our wedding the day it actually happens. I didn't want our first dance and all those other little traditions to take place weeks after the actual wedding. But now I'm kind of afraid that we'll send out our invites and so many people will opt out of the Florida part that I'll start to feel stupid for doing a Wishes wedding!

Starting to ramble here. My point is... deciding whether you want Escape or Wishes can be really, really tough. Ditton on deciding who to invite actually!

Good luck with your move! Can't wait to hear more of your planning.

Thanks...I am very mixed on whether to do a Wishes or Escape. I think Eric is freaked out about spending that amount of money on a Wishes wedding...although it's something we CAN handle. I wasn't crazy about the idea of a home reception either but if we go with Escape I don't see any way around it. I understand what you are saying about people opting out...That would suck!

Just stopping in to say everything looks great so far, and I love all of the colors! I know a bit about your neck of the woods, I graduated from RIT!

OHHH That is right around the corner from my parents house!!

That could be a great option, plus after the fun of the honeymoon is over you would have another celebration to look forward to and you'd be able to include your new grandma as well It's very smart of you two to look at financially savvy options (i.e. Escape) and take into account how many will commit to the trip as well as the "think bigger" Wishes stuff. Either way, the most important part is the ceremony and whichever option you pick, it'll be a wonderful occassion. With the technology available today, wouldn't it be neat if Disney could teleconference the ceremony back to a location back home especially for smaller weddings where guests can't make it. I wonder if anyone's tried it.

That would be really cool. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of him wearing a blue tooth so his grandma could hear, but I wasn't going to argue either, lol. Whatever they want I will go along with.

We basically have decided we have 3 decisions:

1) Keep the Wishes wedding and invite everyone we planned on (around 30-40) Eric will have to get over the fact we will have to save like crazy....I know it's doable

2) Escape wedding with IMMEDIATE family and one friend each. He is having a hard time with this because one of his aunts REALLY wants to go. If he invites and aunt, then I have to...and I have more than one. I don't need family drama.

3) I casually mentioned a Swan & Dolphin wedding. We actually found some really great pics. I am torn because I have heard good and bad things about Just Marry...but it would let us invite everyone on the list. Not sure if I can still have the dessert party though.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I think an Escape is the better option. Couldn't you have it videotaped? Then, everyone could see the ceremony without having to travel.

 

[MainStMandy]

I think an Escape is the better option. Couldn't you have it videotaped? Then, everyone could see the ceremony without having to travel.

That is the way I am leaning. I have wanted something intimate from the start. But I do have to compromise and I know Eric would like a few more people there.

 

[Jazzylolo]

I think even if you do Wishes that a wedding with 30 people will still be quite intimate. That is not very many people at all. Our wedding had 80 and I didn't feel overwhelmed by the people at all. In fact, it felt small to me. I don't know...that is a hard decision to make

I did like the photos of the Swan wedding you sent me. I'm guessing that is a cheaper option??

 

[MainStMandy]

I think even if you do Wishes that a wedding with 30 people will still be quite intimate. That is not very many people at all. Our wedding had 80 and I didn't feel overwhelmed by the people at all. In fact, it felt small to me. I don't know...that is a hard decision to make

I did like the photos of the Swan wedding you sent me. I'm guessing that is a cheaper option??

Yup it is...but not quite "Disney". Plus I have heard really mixed reviews on having a wedding there...some really bad. Not sure I want to take that risk!

 

[tiggersam00]

My concern is that if we offer our guests the option of an at home reception after the wedding, some guests that I think would otherwise have come to FL will pass on that and just come to the home reception instead.

OK, highjacking for just a minute Mandy, the #'s from DFTW say about 70-75% of people invited will show up... I thouhgt this sounded really high, BUT we have 75% of 225 invitees coming! So I guess that is a pretty good number to go by. DFTW says that they have a much higher RSVP # then other destination weddings b/c it is so family friendly...

Ok Highjack over Mandy lol! I think the escape sounds great for you, but if you did a wishes wedding, would that cut down on cost for an at home reception?? Could you maybe do an open house type reception after a DFTW? That could offset the cost... but wearing your dress again sounds awesome! I say do what you are comfortable with, if your DF is weary about the cost of a wishes wedding, then go with the escape. Some of the most amazing weddings I have seen on here were escape weddings with a small initame feeling

 

[MainStMandy]

OK, highjacking for just a minute Mandy, the #'s from DFTW say about 70-75% of people invited will show up... I thouhgt this sounded really high, BUT we have 75% of 225 invitees coming! So I guess that is a pretty good number to go by. DFTW says that they have a much higher RSVP # then other destination weddings b/c it is so family friendly...

Ok Highjack over Mandy lol! I think the escape sounds great for you, but if you did a wishes wedding, would that cut down on cost for an at home reception?? Could you maybe do an open house type reception after a DFTW? That could offset the cost... but wearing your dress again sounds awesome! I say do what you are comfortable with, if your DF is weary about the cost of a wishes wedding, then go with the escape. Some of the most amazing weddings I have seen on here were escape weddings with a small initame feeling

Thanks Sam! I think if we go with a Wishes wedding, we won't have the at home reception because everyone but his Grandma would go. I think he is VERY enticed by the price of an Escape, lol. And I am happy with that...essentially for us it would be the same just with less people. We already planned on the wedding being very simple so there isn't much a Wishes offers us that an Escape doesn't. I printed some stuff for Eric to look at tonight.

 

[MainStMandy]

Oh and here is one of the locations we are conisdering for an at home reception. Either that or the Golf Course where Eric has a membership.

Golf Course overlooking the lake

 

[Pirate's Princess]

I think both the escape and wishes are viable options. The questions are how much do you want to spend and how many people you want there? It sounds like your DF wants to have both...the small cost of the escape but more people. With the new 25 limit does that work for you? Plus don't forget you'll probably want to do a dinner afterwards so that's more $$. And what about the cost of the home reception? They can be pricey too. I think a pro-con list may be in order! Haha (i love those lists). Whichever happens I'm sure your wedding will be intimat and wonderful.

 

[MainStMandy]

I think both the escape and wishes are viable options. The questions are how much do you want to spend and how many people you want there? It sounds like your DF wants to have both...the small cost of the escape but more people. With the new 25 limit does that work for you? Plus don't forget you'll probably want to do a dinner afterwards so that's more $$. And what about the cost of the home reception? They can be pricey too. I think a pro-con list may be in order! Haha (i love those lists). Whichever happens I'm sure your wedding will be intimat and wonderful.

I think a pro-con list is a great idea...lol. I love havin OCD

The problem with the 25 is who to invite...having the 18 limit and saying just immediate family makes it kinda easy.

 

[pinkcow]

We originally had France, Attic and Sago Cay on hold (sounds familiar, right?) But we had a bit of a budget crisis, and went through every option possible; DFTW, S & D, Buena Vista Palace, etc. etc. What it boiled down to for us was that we really wanted an intimate ceremony, slightly unusual and fun. DCL fit that bill for us. The best part was that we could invite absolutely everyone we wanted. The con is that it is a financial burden for some of our family members.


HTH!

 

[MainStMandy]

We originally had France, Attic and Sago Cay on hold (sounds familiar, right?) But we had a bit of a budget crisis, and went through every option possible; DFTW, S & D, Buena Vista Palace, etc. etc. What it boiled down to for us was that we really wanted an intimate ceremony, slightly unusual and fun. DCL fit that bill for us. The best part was that we could invite absolutely everyone we wanted. The con is that it is a financial burden for some of our family members.

HTH!

Lol yes that does sound familiar!! My mom had the same thought about family members spending that amount of money. Eric's family is ok with it but I don't think most of my extended family will come...mainly because it's my second marriage (WHO CARES?!?!?). Thanks for your thoughts...I could use all the opinions I can get!! At least we have decided on a Disney wedding

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

I think both the escape and wishes are viable options. The questions are how much do you want to spend and how many people you want there? It sounds like your DF wants to have both...the small cost of the escape but more people. With the new 25 limit does that work for you? Plus don't forget you'll probably want to do a dinner afterwards so that's more $$. And what about the cost of the home reception? They can be pricey too. I think a pro-con list may be in order! Haha (i love those lists). Whichever happens I'm sure your wedding will be intimat and wonderful.

There's a new 25 guest limit for escape weddings?

 

[MainStMandy]

There's a new 25 guest limit for escape weddings?

Yup! For a flat fee of $500 you get 25 including Bride and Groom.

 

[Jazzylolo]

I hope that photo of the golf course is really really old If not...those people need fashion consultants!!

Do you know 30-40 people are actually planning on going to the wedding or is that your invite list? Does that include a lot of friends or just a lot of extended family? How many people would come if it was the immediate family, MOH and BM only? It seems 25 is so close to the 30 you estimate but the politics of who to invite is a pain I know!!

 

[MainStMandy]

I hope that photo of the golf course is really really old If not...those people need fashion consultants!!

Do you know 30-40 people are actually planning on going to the wedding or is that your invite list? Does that include a lot of friends or just a lot of extended family? How many people would come if it was the immediate family, MOH and BM only? It seems 25 is so close to the 30 you estimate but the politics of who to invite is a pain I know!!

That's the problem...we don't know. I don't think my extended family will come but they could suprise me and then we would be OVER the limit. That's why its easiest to just say immediate family or everyone.

 

[tiggersam00]

I think a pro-con list is a great idea...lol. I love havin OCD .